Oil well tools



F ig. l

Dec. 13, 1955 L. M. WILHOIT ET AL OIL WELL. TOOLS Filed Sept. 6, 1952 ATTORNEY OIL WELL TOOLS Lowell M. Wilhoit, Harry B. Schramm, and

Herbert C. Otis, Dallas, Tex.

Application September 6, 1952, Serial No. 308,202

22 Claims. (Cl. 166-224) This invention relates to oil well tools and more particularly to a well tool for use in injecting fluids into the ow string or tubing of a well.

One object of the invention is to provide a well tool for use in injecting fluids into the ow string or tubing of a well for the annulus exteriorly of the ow tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chemical injector for flow strings of wells having an insertable and removable injector control mechanism whereby the flow of well uids through the ow string may be unobstructed when injection of chemical uids into the flow string is unnecessary.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chemical injector having a housing and landing nipple permanently connected in the ow string and an injector mechanism which may be selectively placed in and removed from the housing and landing nipple, and wherein the housing and landing nipple are provided with a lateral ow passage from the exterior to the interior thereof valved to control ow through said inlet, the valve being operable by the injector mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an injector mechanism having an adjustable valve whereby the rate of injection of the chemical iiuids into the ow string may be predetermined.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a well tool of the character described wherein the landing nipple and injector mechanism are provided with selectively mating positioning and locking members whereby injector mechanisms may be selectively positioned in any selected one of a plurality of housings and landing nipples connected at vertically spaced positions in a well flow conductor.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in acordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the chemical injector-showing the injector mechanism in position in the landing nipple and the housing.

Figure 2 is a. horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, v

Figure 3 is a Vertical sectional view of va modified form of the chemical injector,

. Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, with some parts shown in section, of the positioning and locking device of the injector mechanism of the injector illustrated in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to the view of Figure 3, and showing the positioning members of the positioning and locking device in locating position. A

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral designates a housing Whose upper end is internally threaded, as at 11, for connection to a pipe orvjoint of tubing (not shown) forming a part of the ow string of a well. The

United States Patent O lower end of the housing is rigidly secured to a landing nipple 12 by a weld 13 or in any other suitable manner. The landing nipple is reduced above the lower end of the housing to provide an annular flow passage 14 between the housing and the landing nipple. A plurality of apertures 15 in the wall of the landing nipple provide communication between the central bore of the landing nipple and the annular passage 14 between the nipple and the housing.

The landing nipple is provided with a pair of opposed outwardly extending anges 16 and 17 which are aligned with a pair of lateral openings 18 and 19, respectively, in the housing and are rigidly secured to the housing by welds 20 and 21, respectively, in said openings. The ange 17 is larger than the other flange and is provided with a lateral flow port or bore 22 having its inner portion reduced to form a shoulder in said bore, and a valve seat sleeve 23 disposed in the bore has an external annular ange 24 which abuts the annular shoulder 25 in the bore or port. The valve seat sleeve has. an inner valve seat 23a at its inner end. A valve seat positioning ring 26 is threaded in the port and is internally threaded to receive a valve retaining ring 26a having at its inner end a second or outer valve seat 27. An O-ring or seal 28 is disposed in an external annular recess between the reduced outer end of the valve seat sleeve 23 and the positioning ring 26 and engages both said sleeve and said ring to seal therebetween. The O-ring is retained in place in the recess by the inner end of the valve retaining ring 26a. A ball valve 29 is disposed in the bore of the valve seat sleeve between the inner and outer valve seats to close the bore against uid ow therethrough in either direction, the ball valve being seated on one or the other of the valve seats in accordance with the direction of ow.

An injector mechanism or choke I may be removably positioned in the landing nipple to cause the ball valve 29 to be moved outwardly to allow flow of iluids from the exterior ofthe housing into the interior of the landing nipple.

The injector mechanism includes a sealing or packing mandrel 30 having a lower section 31 threaded into an upper section 32, the upper and lower sections having aligned axial bores 33 and 34, respectively. The upper portion of the bore 34 of the lower section 31 of the packing mandrel is enlarged to receive an annular valve seat 35 which is -disposed to be engaged by a valve 36 slidably mounted in the bore 33 of the upper section 32 to close oi downward ow through the bore 34 of the lower section of the mandrel. The lower portion of the bore 34 of the lower mandrel section is also enlarged to receive a ball check valve 37 and a retaining bushing 38 threaded in the lower end of the bore. The bushnig 38 is provided with a plurality of lateral slots 39 in its upper end so that uid may ow downwardly past the ball check valve when it is supported thereon. Upward ow of uid through the bore is prevented, however, since the ball check valve will be lifted into engagement with the downwardly facing annular seat 40 at the upper end of the enlarged bore to close said bore.

The valve 36 has a stem 41 which extends upwardly in the central bore 33 of the upper section 32 of the mandrel. An O-ring sealing assembly 42 is disposed about the valve stem to prevent passage of uid between the valve stem andthe bore wall of the mandrel. The sealing assembly isA held in place on the stem between an annular shoulder 43 on said stern above the valve and a retaining ring 44 threaded on the reduced upper end of said stem.

The valve 36 is biased downwardly toward the valve seat 35 by a compression spring 4S disposed in the j bore 33 of the upper mandrel section and having its opposite'ends bearing against the retaining ring 44 and the lowermost of a plurality of spacer VringsV 46. The spacer rings areheld in .place bythe lower endof an elongate neck member'49 which has such lower Vend threaded into the upper Vend ofV anvexpander sleeve or lock mandrel l50, which in turn is threaded' on the upper end of the upper section k32 of the packing mandrel.

' The number and thickness of the Vspacerrrings controls Y 560i the upper mandrel section, sealsbetween the landing nipple and the lowerrsection'of said packing mandrel to prevent flow of fluid` therebetween A plurality Vof lateral ports oropenings 57 are formed in the lower portion of the uppersection of the packing mandrel, and these ports communicate with vthe enlargedw lower portion 58 of the boreA 33 of the upper sec-V tion adjacent the valve 36 andwith the annular space 59 between the injector mandrel and the landing nipple.

. It will be notedV that the lateraloport 22 ofthe landingV nipple also communicates with the annular space 59'when the ball valveis displaced outwardly by the injector mandrel, as shown in Figures l and 2Q Y The' injector mechanism I isV held in place by slipsV or dogs 60 whiehswing on hooks 61 at their upper ends engaging over an internal annular iiange 62 in the bore of a slip carrier 63 'slidably disposed on thej neck mem*- ber 49. The slips are moved outwardly by the downwardly and outwardly Vbeveled surface 64v of the locking mandrel 50Ywhen the latter is moved upwardly relative .to the slips.V When moved' outwardly, the slips enter into an internal annular recess 65 in the bore of the landing nipple and their upper shoulders 66 engage a downwardly facing shoulder 67 atV the upper endV of the recess in the landing nipple to prevent upward displacement of they injector mechanism out of said landing nipple.

In order toequalize the duid pressure acting upwardly through the bore 34 of the lower section of thevalve 36, the neck member 49 is provided with an' axial bore 68 in its lower end andQwi'thlateral ports communicating with said axial bore so that the valve may be subjected to iluid pressurefrom above actingV downwardlyon the valve, the uid `in the annular passage I4 between the housing and the landing nipple thus having access to the bore 33 of the upper section above the valve 36 to substantially equalize uid pressures thereacross. Since the area of the sealing assemblyr42 greater than', the area of thev valve exposed to uid pressure in the bore of the seat 3S, the valvewill be normally urged into seating engagement with the seat by the fluid pressure acting on the sealing assembly. This fluid pressure aug'- ments the force exertedrby the spring 45 acting on the va ve. A

A sub 70 may be threaded into the lower end of the landing nipple, the sub having a bore substantially equal to andV aligned with the bore of the landing nipple. If desired, 'an internal annular stop ange 71 may be provided in the lower end ofthe bore of the sub. This sub provides for seating a valve and packing; mechanism for closing off all liow through the bore of the housing and landing nipple.

In use, the housing is connected in the flow string of a well by means of the internal threads 11 atrits upper end and the external threads 72 at its lower end;

Well fluids will then ow upwardly through the sub 70, the landing nipple and the housing. The pressure ofY the uids will move the ball valve 29 into closed position on the valve seat 27 the lateral port 22 so that no uid will be allowed to escape through said port 22 Y to the exterior of the housing. Y v When it becomes desirable to inject uids, such as chemical treating compositionsor the like, into the ow string the yinjector mechanism I' is lowered'into the flow string by means of any suitable running tool (not shown) which is connected to the annular grooved flange 74 on the upper end of the neck member 49. Theslips 60 and carrier 63 are slidable longitudinally ort the locking'mandrelrSt) and may move upwardly relative to the neck member until the upper end 7S of the' slip carrier engages the underside of the annular ange 74 at the upper end In this position, the slips 60 Vare landing nipple. An externalY annular flange 63a onprthe slip carrier engages the beveled upper Yend of the landing nipple12 to limit Vdownward' movementiof the injector mechanism inthe nipple,V slacklin the line on which the Y running tool isv suspended" e mechanism is positionedeinj he'nnipple. Y e Y e When` rthe slips areY thus'` positioned adjacent the lan- 'dica'ting that the injector nula-r recess 65, the line is pulled upwardly'pto causeV upward movement of' Vthe locking mandrel' relativeV to theV slips.V The beveled surface. 64 will then move the slips outwardly into the groove,whereuponvsaid'. slips engage the annularshould'ei 67 of the landing nipple to lock the injector mechanism in place in the landingV nipple- Y. 1

' The` ball'valve 29 is held outuof engagement withthe inner valvefseat23a by 'thejinjectorlmandrel to permit ow of uid pumped betweenthe` exterior of the housing andthe well casing (not shown) inwardly through rthe port 22 into the annular space S9" between the injector mandrel Vand the landing nipple; ,The fluid vmay then.

liow through the lateral openings 57 in theuppermandrel;

fluids which owupwardly through the apertures 15 in thevv Y landing nipple into the annular passage 14 between the landing nipple and the housing, andthence upwardly past the slip carrier into the upper sections of the ow string and ultimately to they surface. o injected iiuids can be set by adjusting the compression of the spring 45 before the injector mechanism is loweredinto the flow string. The rate of How caribe v decreased by adding spacer rings- 46- or increased' by removingrone or more of these rings.

If it is desired to stop the injection of lipids for a.Y

certain period of time, it is merely necessary to stops pumping thev uids into the well casing. The valve 36 and the ball valves 37 and 29 will prevent Vflow of well uids from the; tubingV string outwardly through the'fport 22 into the well casing. v

when it is. determined maf-fumier miserias or nulas will Vnot be needed, the injector mechanism Amay be re moved by lowering, a pulling tool, such asr that shown in the patentzto H.,C. Otis, 1,398,261; on a line to,- engage andstrike, Ia downwardglow'on the upper endrof the? neck member `49.10. .movethelvsldnamandrel 50 downward This Permits the Slips .femfts inwardly t0 retracted. pesition, whereupon the pullingtool mayengage .beneath mthe shoulder 73 of theslp carrier'and'lift the entire injector n'lecharnfsrrl,v uuwardly,

It will be ,seen now that' a` well toolfor injecting fluidsY The rate of flow of' the into the ow string of a well has been provided which includes a housing having a landing nipple 12 secured therein and connected in the ow string. It will also be seen that an injector mechanism I can be lowered into the landing nipple and locked in place therein by means of the slips 60 which engage the shoulder 67 of the landing nipple when moved into expanded position by the locking mandrel 50. Moreover, it will be seen that uids may enter a lateral port in the housing and nipple and ow past a valve 29 into the bore 34of the injector mandrel, the rate of flow of the uids into the bore 34 being regulated by the measuring or regulating valve 36. Moreover, it will be apparent that the injector mechanism may be easily placed in and removed from the landing nipple as needed.

If desired, a plurality of separate conductors (not shown) may be mounted on the exterior of the landing nipple to provide a plurality of upward ow courses bypassing the landing nipple, rather than the single annular passage 14 between the landing nipple and the housing.

A modied form of the well tool is shown in Figures 3 through 5. This form of the well tool includes a housing 80 which has internal threads 81 at its upper end to receive a sub (not shown) by means of which it may be connected to a ow string. The lower end of the housing is internally threaded to receive a lower sub or seating sleeve 82. The housing is reduced externally at its mid-portion to form a downwardly facing annular shoulder 83 which acts as a stop to limit upward movement of a tubular screen or sleeve 84 whose lower end portion is rigidly held against downward movement by a retaining ring 85 secured to the lower sub 82 by set screws 86. The retaining ring is provided with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 87 intermediate its ends which abuts the lower end of the sleeve 84, and the upper annular end surface 8S of the retaining ring abuts a downwardly facing annular shoulder 89 on the lower sub.

The exterior diameter of the housing is still further reduced from a point spaced slightly below the shoulder 83 throughout the length of the lower portion 90 'of said housing, and the inner diameter of the sleeve 84 is of greater diameter than the exterior diameter of the reduced lower portion of the housing so that an annular passage 91 is formed therebetween. A plurality of apertures or ports 92 are provided in the lower end portion of the screen or sleeve to permit ilow of uid from exteriorly of the housing in the well casing into the annular passage 91 between the sleeve and housing.

A landing nipple 98 is mounted in the bore of the housing 80, being positioned axially therein by a pair of opposed external wings or flanges 97 and 99 on the lower portion of said nipple and similar pair of external spaced lugs or flanges 100 near the upper end of the nipple. The landing nipple is rigidly secured to the housing by welds 101 and 102 about apertures in the housing aligned with one of the spacer lugs 100 and the flange or wing 97, respectively. The wing 97 is larger than the wing 99 and has a port 96 formed therein to provide communication between the exterior of the housing and the interior of the nipple. A ball valve 93 is disposed between two opposed valve seats 94 and 95 in the port 96 in the ange 97 of the landing nipple, and this ball valve serves the same purpose as the valve 29 of the form of the well tool of Figure 1.

The choke or injector mechanism I of the modied form includes a sealing or packing mandrel 103 having a lower section 104 threaded into an upper section 105. The lower section has an external annular ange 106 near its lower end and a cap 107 having a plurality of openings 108 is threaded onto the lower end of said mandrel section below the ange. The openings 108 communicate with the bore 109 of the lower mandrel section through a valve seat member 111 threaded in the lower end of said bore. A ball check valve 112 is disposed in the cap adjacent a downwardly facing valve seat 113 provided on 7 5 6 the lower end of the valve seat member, and is adapted to engage said seat to prevent upward flow of fluid through the bore of the lower mandrel section.

An upper valve seat member 114 is threaded inthe upper end of the lower mandrel section and a ball valve 115 is adapted to engage said seat to close oftr flow through the bore 119 of the seat member. The ball valve 115 is supported on a movable sleeve member 116 slidably disposed in the bore 109 of the lower mandrel section and biased upwardly by a spring 117 bearing against the lower end of the sleeve member. The compression of the spring is adjustably controlled by spacer rings 11S disposed in the bore of the mandrel section on the upper end of the valve seat member 111. The slidable sleeve member1116 is provided with a bore 120, and has a plurality of lateral ports 121 formed below the upper end of said member to provide for downward passage of fluid past the ball valve 115 to the bore of the sleeve and thence downwardly through the mandrel section past the ball check valve 112 and through the openings 108 of the cap.

The bore 119 of the valve seat 114 communicates with an axial bore 122 in the lower end of the upper mandrel section 105 and, through lateral ports 123 formed in said mandrel section, with the annular space 124 between the upper mandrel section and the landing nipple. A chevron packing assembly 125 disposed about the lower mandrel section 104 between the annular flange 106 thereof and the lower annular end of the upper mandrel section prevents ow of liuid in either direction through the annular space 1245 between said lower mandrel section and the landing nipple. A similar chevron packing assembly 127 is disposed about the upper reduced portion ofthe upper mandrel section between the upwardly facing annular shoulder 128 at the lower end of the reduced upper portion of said mandrel section and the lower end of a depending annular skirt or ange 129 of a packing clamping ring 130 telescoping over the upper end of the upper mandrel section, and this packing prevents ow of fluid in either direction through the annular space 124 between the upper section and the landing nipple.

It will thus be apparent that fluid under pressure, such as chemical treating compositions or the like, will ow from the well casing through the ports 92 in the screen or sleeve 04, the annular space 91, and past the ball valve 93 into the annular space 124 in the landing nipple. The nid is then directed through the lateral ports 123 in the upper mandrel section to the bore 122 of said upper section and downwardly through the bore 119 of the valve seat 114 to unseat the valve 115. The fluid will then flow through the ports 121 and bore 120 of the sleeve member 116 and continue downwardly through the bore 109 of the lower mandrel section, past the ball check valve 112 and through the openings 108 in the cap 107 into the bore of the housing 80, where the fluid then will mingle with iluids flowing upwardly through the sub 82 and through the annular passage or space 131 between the housing and the landing nipple.

The mechanism for positioning and locking the injector includes a neck or stem 132 whose lower end is threaded in a bore 133 in the upper end of the upper section 105 of the packing mandrel. The packing clamping ring 130 is also threaded on the lower end of the rod, and acts as a lock nut holding the neck connected to the packing mandrel. A positioning barrel 134 has its lower end telescoped over a reduced upstanding annular ilange 135 at the upper end of the packing clamping ring and its lower end rests on the annular shoulder 136 of the packing clamping ring exteriorly of the ilange. The barrel has an inturned flange 137 at its top encl against the upper surface of which an annular shoulder 138 on the neck 132 bears to hold the barrel immovably in place between the packing clamping ring and said annular shoulder.

The barrel has two opposed lateral windows 139 through which positioning keys 140 are adapted to project (Figures 4 and 5). The keys are located within the baring nipple.

^ Y 7 rel and are biased outwardlyby leaf springs 141 disposed between the backs of the keys and the neck 132. The keys have upper and lower lugs; 142 and 143, respectively; which are adapted to engage the inner wall of the barrel to prevent the keys from being displaced completely from said barrel. `The keys have selector bosses 144 and 145 which are adapted to project into shaped annular grooves 146 and 147 formed in the landing nipple. The grooves are separated by an annular ange 148 which provides a` fiat annular top surface 149 which may be beveled slightly at Vits innermost edge. The lower shoulder 151 of the lower selector boss 145 is beveled inwardly and downwardly so that the engagementof the beveled lowerkshoulder 151 with the Vupper edge of the Y flange 148 forces the key inwardly and allows it to move past said ange. The flat lower surface 152 of the upper selector boss 144, however, catches on the hat top surface 149 ofthe flange so that the key cannot movefurther downwardly. Y The keys 140, therefore, limit the downward movement of the injector mechanism in the land- The beveled upper surfaces 153 and 154 of the selector bosses force the keys inwardly as they engage the beveled lower surface 155 of the flange 14S as -they move upwardly past the flange so that the keys permit upward movement and removal ofthe injector mechanism. Y

The injector mechanismis locked against upward displacement from the landing nipple by a pair'of dogs or slips 156 which are disposed in opposed recesses 157 formed in the barrel between the positioning keys. The slips are swngably carried by a slip carrier or sleeve 158 Vslidably mounted on the neck V132, being suspended by hooks 159 at their upper ends engaging over an internal flange 160 Vformed inV the bore of the lower enlarged portion of the slip carrier. A pair of camming blocks 161 are held in place in the barrel between the inturned Y flange 137 at its upper end andthe upstanding annular ang'e135 on the packing clamping ring, and these blocks cam the slips outwardly into the annular groove 146 when the barrel and camming blocks are moved upwardly relative to the slip carrier and slips.

In use, the housing 80 is connected in the ilow string of thewell. The well iiuids then flow upwardly through the landing nipple and the housing, and the'pressure of such uids moves the ball valve 93 outwardly to the valve seat 975 so that none of the well fluids escape outwardly through the port 96 to the exterior of the housing.

When it is desired to inject chemical lluids into the ow string, the choke or injector mechanism I' is lowered into the ow string by means of a suitable running tool (not shown) suspended on a line. The running tool is connected to the annular grooved ange 164 on the upper end of the neck member 132 in the same manner as with the previous form. The slips 156 and the carrier 158 are slidable longitudinally relative to the neck member tracted position. The springs 141 bias the selector keys 140 outwardly, however, so that the downward movement of the injector mechanism is stopped when the surface 15.172 of the upper selector boss 144 engages the upper surface 149 ofthe flange 148 in the landing nipple. The slips may then be set by liftingV the line to cause upward movement of the neck member 132 and camming blocks 1'61 relative to the slips and the carrier. The slips now project to Vthe annular groove 146 and prevent upward movement of the injector mechanism from the landing nipple. The barrel 134 and all associated parts move lupwardlyuntil the slips engage the downwardly facing the landing. nipple in the mannerpreviously described.` The rate of low ofthe Huid or cher'nic'als can be adjusted by varying the compression of the spring 117, which may be accomplished by adding or removing spacer rings 118 to compress or release the spring. Y f

When it is desired to remove the injector mechanism, a pulling tool Vsuch as* has beenV previously described is employed to drive the neck member 132 downwardly toV allow the vslips'` to move to retracted positions. The pulling tool is then moved to engage beneath the undercut. flange 163 at the upper end of the slip carrier and the injector is then pulled upwardly, the'keys and slips being cammed inwardly by the beveled shoulders of the grooves 146jand 147 vas they move upwardly.

Th' modified form of the invention not only provides for positioning the injector mechanism in a landing'nipple which is not provided with any substantial restriction in its borefso that there Vis a ysubstantially full opening through said landing nipple, but also` provides a screened lateral inlet from outside the housing into the bore of the'V landing nipple, and a modiiedY valve structure'for'con- Y trolling admission of liuidsV or chemicalsto thebore of theV landing nipple. 'I he selector keys of the' locking mechanism also provide means by which au injector mechanismvmay be selectively positioned in any one of several full opening landing nipples and housings made up in the ow tubing at different, elevations, in the well bore. The shape and size of the bosses on the selector keys and the shape and size of the flanges 14Sy and the grooves 146 and 147 in the landing nipple will control the selective positioning offthe injector mechanism in each v Y and cammingblocks so that the slips may move to re- 'Y shoulder 170 at the upper end of the annular groove 14,6.; In this position, the selector bosses of the positioning keys are cammed inwardly to the position shown of the locations.

The foregoing description of the'invention is eXplana'- ing a lateral port,y an elongate hollow landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper p and lower ends communicating with the interior'of said.

housing, said nipple being of substantially smallerdiameter than said housing whereby an annular passage is y formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing and having a bore communicating with the port of the housing and the Vinterior of said landing nipple, `a two-way check, valve in said bore movable by :duid pressures to prevent ilow of fluid in either direction through said bore, and a removable choke disposed in said landing Vnipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke displacing said valve to permit uidV dow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage com- 'Vmunicating with the annular space between the choke and landing nipple and with the interior of said landing nipple below said bore wherebyv uidkmay ilow from exteriorly of the housing to the interior of said landing nipple and downwardly Vinto the-interior of'said housing and thence upwardly through said annular passage be tween the nipple and housing. Y

2. A well toolcomprising: an elongate hollow housing connectable in the ow stringof a well, saidhousing having a lateral port, an elongate hollow landing ynipple conf centrically disposed in said housing and having its ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annularpassage isformed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to saidhousing and having a bore communicatingwith said lateral port and the interior'offsaidlanding nipple, a two-way check valve in said bore movable by uid pressures to prevent ow of fluid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke displacing said valve to permit iluid ow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having an axial passage communicating with said annular space and the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby fluid may ilow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular passage, and pressure responsive means in said axial passage of said choke for regulating the rate of fluid ow through said axial passage.

3. A well tool comprising: an elongate hollow housing connectable in the flow string of a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate hollow landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annular passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing and having a bore communicating with said port and the interior of said landing nipple, a two-way check valve in said bore movable by iiuid pressures to prevent ilow of iluid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said chokeand said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke displacing said valve to permit iluid ilow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby uid may flow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular passage, a second valve movably mounted in said passage of said choke, and means biasing said second valve toward closed position, the fluid pressure in said annular space tending to open said second valve against the force exerted by the biasing means whereby the rate of ow of uid from said annular space into said passage of said choke varies in accordance with the uid pressure in said annular space.

4. A well tool comprising: an elongate hollow housing connectable in the ow string of a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate hollow landing nipple coneentrically disposed in said housing and having its ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annular passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing andhaving a bore communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a two-way check valve in said bore movable by uid pressures to prevent flow of fluid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple formingan-annular space between said sealing means, said choke displacing said valve to permit uid ow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby fluid may flow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular passage, and a check valve in said passage of said t l() l, l l choke for preventing back ow of uid through said passage of said choke into said annular space.

5. A well tool comprising: an elongate hollow housing connectable in the ow string of a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate hollow landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially .smaller diam-l eter than said housing whereby an annular flow passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing and having a bore communicating with said port'and with the interior of said landing nipple, a two-way check valve in said bore movable by uid pressures to prevent flow of uid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke displacing said valve to permit iiuid llow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby uid may ow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular flow passage, pressure responsive means in said passage of said choke for regulating the rate of uid ow through said passage, and a check valve in said passage of said choke for preventing back iiow of fluid through said passage of said choke into said annular space.

6. A well tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable in the ow string of a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annular passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing and having a bore communicating at one end with said housing port and at its other end with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve in said bore movable by iluid pressures into closing engagement with spaced opposed valve seats in said bore to prevent ow of fluid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means engaging the interior of the nipple for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore and forming an annular space around the choke between said sealing means, said choke having means displacing said valve from engagement with one of the seats in the bore to permit iiuid flow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having an axial passage with a lateral inlet communicating with said annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said choke whereby lluid may ow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple and downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular passage, a second valve movably mounted in said axial passage of said choke, means biasing said second valve toward closed position, the iluid pressure in said annular space tending to open said second valve against the force exerted by the biasing means whereby the rate of flow of iiuid from said annular space into said passage of said choke varies in accordance with the uid pressure in said annular space, and a check valve in said passage of said choke for preventing ow of uid back through said passage of said choke into said annular space.

7. A well tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable in the tlow string of a well and having a lat-l eral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple disposed in said housing and having its Aupper and lower ,ends communicating with the bore of said housing, said nipple being of substantially. smaller diameterk than said housing whereby a ow passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing with a bore therein communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a

' valve in said bore movable by uid pressures between Y annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said Vannular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby iiuid mayV dow from said annularspace to the interior of said landing` nipple downwardly into the interior of s'aidthousing and thence upwardly through said how passage, and locking means on said choke engageable withl said landing nipple` for removably locking said choke in position in said landt ing nipple.

8. A well tool comprising: an elongate hollow housingV connectable-in thefow stringof a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate hollowv landing nipple disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower endsv communicating withV the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than saidV housing whereby a flow passage is formed therebetween,

said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing and having a bore therein communicating withsaid port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve in said bore movable by duid pressures between spaced opposed-,seatsto prevent ow of uid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means,

Y said choke having means displacing said valve from one of theopposed seats to permit fluid flow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating withtsaid annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby uid may ow from said annular space to the interior of saidlanding nipple downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said llow passage, pressure responsivemeans in said passage` of said choke for regulating the rate of iiuid'ow through said passage, and locking means on said choke engageable with said landing nipple for removably loking saidl choke in position in saidy landing nipple. 'Y

9. A well tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable in the flow string of a well` and having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple disposed in said Vhousing and having its upper and 'lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby a ow p assagefisformed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom; to said, housing with ak bore. therein communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve inrsaid bore movable between spaced seats by fluid pressures to prevent tlow of uid .in either direction from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple and into thev interior of' said housingV andV thence upwardlyl through saidflow passage, a second. valve movably mounted in said passage of said choke, and means biasing said second valve toward closed position, the iuid pressure from saidannular space tending to open said'second valve against the force exerted by the biasing means whereby the rate of flow of fluid from said annular space through saidtp'assage of said choke varies in accordance with the fluid pressure in said annular space, and locking means on said choke engageable with said landing nipple Y for removably locking said choke inposition'in said landt ing nipple. v

l0. A well'tool comprising:l an elongate-tubular housing connectable inthe ow string of a well and'rhaving a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple` disposed ,Y in said housing and having its upper and lower ends-coml municating with the interior 'ofsaid housing, said nipple being of substantiallysmaller diameter than said housing whereby a ow passageis formed therebetween, said nipplehaving anextension projecting laterally therefrom toi!v said housing with a borertherein communicating vwith said port and with the interiorof said landing nipple; al.,

valver in said bore movable by fluid pressures into en-v gagement with, spaced opposed seatsrto prevent ilow of;V

fluid in either. direction throughV said bore, a removableV chokeV disposed in said landing nipple having sealingy means for sealing. betweenY said choke and said` landing,

nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said.'

landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke having means displacingsaid,

valve fromone of saidv opposed seats to permit Huid iowV from the exterior of said housing into said housing and into said annular space, said choke having a passage com-Y passage of. saidzchoke into said annular space, and locking; Y

means on said'choke engageable with said landing nipple for removably' locking said choke in position in saidY landing nipple. v j Y ll. Awell tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable' inthe iiow string of a well, said housing having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipplel Y disposed in-said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the/interior of said housing, said nipple beingl of substantially smaller. diameter than said housing whereby a flow passage is formed therebetween,

through said bore, a removable choke disposed in saidrV saidv nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing with a bore therein communicating with said-port and with the interior of said landing nipple,

t a valve in said borey movable by fluid pressures to engage spaced seats to prevent flow of huid in either directions through said bore, and a removable choke disposed in= said landingnipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above andy be.-

low said bore, said choke andsaid landing nippleY forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke having means displacing said valve from one ofy said' seats to permituid ow'from the exterior of saidlhousing` intov said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and with the'interior of said landing nipple below said bore whereby tluid may iow from said annular space to thel interior of said landingnipple and downwardly in the interior' of said housing and thence upwardly through said flow passageexteriorly of the nipple, said landing nipple hav-Y ing, an annulary internal groove adjacent thel upper end:V thereof, and locking means on said lchoke selectively movable into said annular groove of said landing nipple for retaining said choke in place in said landing nipple.

12. Awell tool. comprising: an elongate tubular'housv 13 t ing connectable in the ow string of a well and having lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing above and below said port, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby a ow passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing with. a bore therein communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve in said bore movable by uid pressures into engagement with either of a pair of spaced valve seats to prevent ow of iluid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke having means displacing said valve from one of said seats to permit uid ow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said sealing means whereby iluid may ow from said annular space to the interior of said landing nipple and downwardly the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said tlow passage, pressure responsive means in said choke passage for regulating the rate of fluid flow through said passage, said landing nipple having an an nular internal groove adjacent the upper end thereof, and locking means on said choke selectively movable into said annular groove of said landing nipple for retaining said choke in place in said landing nipple.

13. A well tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable in the ow string of a well having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing above and below said port, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annular flow passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing with a bore communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve in said bore movable by fluid pressures into engagement with either of a pair of spaced valve seats to prevent ow of uid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means for sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an annular space between said sealing means, said choke having'means displacing said valve from engagement with one of said valve seats to permit uid ilow from the exterior of said housing into said annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple below said sealing means whereby fluid may ilow from said annular space downwardly through said choke passage into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular flow passage, a second valve movably mounted in said choke passage, means biasing said second valve toward closed position, the uid pressure from said annular space tending to open said second valve against the force exerted by the biasing means whereby the rate of ow of iuid from said annular space through said choke passage varies in accordance with the duid pressure in said annular space, said landing nipple having an annular internal groove adjacent the upper end thereof, and locking means on said choke selectively movable into said annular groove of said landing nipple for retaining said choke in place in said landing nipple.

14. A well tool comprising, an elongate tubular housing connectable in the ow string of a well and having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple concentrically disposed in said housing and having its upper and i 14 Y Y lower ends communicating with the interior of said housing above and below said port, said nipple being of sub stantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby an annular ow passage is formed therebetween, said nipple having an extension projecting laterally therefrom to said housing with a bore communicating with said port and with the interior of said landing nipple, a valve in said bore movable by uid pressures into engagement with either of spaced valve seats to prevent llow of uid in either direction through said bore, a removable choke -disposed in said landing nipple having sealing means ior` sealing between said choke and said landing nipple above and below said bore, said choke and said landing nipple forming an internal annular space between said sealing means, and a sleeve disposed about the lower portion of said housing forming an outer annular space therebetween, said sleeve having lateral openings in the lower portion thereof, said port communicating with said outer annular space, said choke having means displacing said valve to permit uid ow from said outer annular space into said internal annular space, said choke having a passage communicating with said internal annular space and with the interior of said landing nipple whereby fluid may ow from said internal annular space through said choke passage downwardly into the interior of said housing and thence upwardly through said annular ow passage.

l5. A well tool including, an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member within said outer tubular member and spaced therefrom to form a ow passage therebetween, conductor means extending laterally between said tubular members, said conductor means and aid members having apertures communicating with each other whereby fluid may pass between the exterior of said outer member and the interior of said inner member, said inner member having its upper and lower ends communicating with the interior of said outer member, said outer member being connectable in the flow string of a well, a valve in one of said apertures responsive to uid pressure to engage either of a pair of spaced valve seats therein to prevent ow of uid in either direction through said apertures, and a removable choke disposed in said inner member having sealing means for sealing between said choke 'and said inner member above and below said apertures, said choke having means displacing said valve from engagement with one of said valve seats to permit fluid ilow from the exterior of said outer member into said inner member, said choke having a passage communicating with the interior of said inner member between said sealing means and with the interior of said inner member below said sealing means whereby uid may flow from said conductor means into said inner member and downwardly through said choke passage into the interior of said outer member and then upwardly through said flow passage.

16. A device of the character set forth in claim 15 which includes: a tubular sub connected to the lower end of the outer tubular member below the landing nipple and having a bore wall providing a sealing surface in said sub corresponding substantially in diameter to the bore of the inner tubular member.

17. A well tool including, an elongate tubular housing connectable in a well ow conductor and having an axial bore and a lateral port intermediate its ends, an elongate tubular landing nipple mounted concentrically in the housing and having its exterior wall spaced from the wall of the bore of the housing to provide an annular flow passage therebetween, an annular outwardly inclined enlargement at the lower end of said tubular landing nipple engaging and secured to the lower end of the inner wall of the tubular housing to hold such lower end of such said landing nipple spaced from the wall of the bore of the housing, said outwardly inclined enlargement having a flow passage therethrough providing communication between the bore of the enlarged lower portion of the landing nipple and the annular space between said landing nipple and the said tubular housing, and a radially disposed wing on the exterior ofrsad landing nipple connected atits outer YVend with the housing around the' lateral p ort in said h ousing, said wing having a ow passage therethrough communicating atits outer end with the port in therhousing and at its inner end with'the bore of said landing nipple, the inner end of said flow passage being positioned intermediate the ends of the' landing nipple,` said landing nipple having a cylindrical sealing surface Y,in its bore "i above and below said lateral opening and anfannular locking recess in its bore above said sealing surfaces.

Y 18. A well tool comprising:Y an elongatetubular housing connectable in the ow string of a well and having a lateral port, an elongate tubular landing nipple disposed in said housing and having its ripperY andlower ends communicating with-the interior of said housing, said nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby a flow passage is formed therebetween, Vsaid nippleV having Vmeansvconnecting said nipple with said housing and having a lateral iowV passage extending from Y the housing port to the interior of the landing nipple, Va two-way check valve in said lateral ow passage movable by Viluid pressure to positions closing oi flow of fluid in either direction through said lateral'passage, said housing outwardly extending annular enlargement engaging and connected to the lower end of the inner Wall of the outer tubular member and forming a downward continuation of said outer tubular member; flow courses in said outwardly extending enlarged portion of said inner tubular member communicating with the bore of said inner tubular member .and with the annular space between the'inner tubular o member and said outer tubular member to form a ow passageV therebetween; said inner and outer members each having a lateral port formed therein; means connecting said ports of vsaid inner and outer members and forming a ow passage from the port of the outer member through Ythe port of the inner memberto the interior of said inner member, said inner member yhaving-its upper and lower end portions communicating with the interior of said outer member, 'said outer member being connectable in the llow string of a well, and a two-way check valve in the llow passage connecting the lateral ports of the inner and outer members responsive to fluid pressure to Vclose off VHow of fluid in either direction through said passage- 20. A well tool including: an elongate tubular housing kconnectable in a well llow conductor and having an axial bore and a lateral port intermediate its ends, an elongate tubular landing nipple mounted concentrically in the housing and having its exterior wall spaced from the wall of the 'bore of the housing to provide an annular flow passage therebetween, and a radially disposed wing on the exterior of said landing nipple connected at its outer end with `the housing around the lateral port in said housing, said wing having a ilow passage therethrough communicating at its outer end with the port in the housing and 'at its inner end with a lateral opening in the bore wall of said .landing nipple, the inner end of said flow passage 16 Y beingrpositioned intermediate the ends of the landing nipple, said landing nipple bore providing cylindrical sealing surfaces therein above and below said lateralV opening, said landngnipple having apair of adjacent annular grooves invits bore above said sealing surfaces,A

and a choke insertable in said landing nipple and having sealing means engageable with the sealing surfaces in said landing nipple, said choke havingV positioning and locking means selectively movable into said annular grooves of said landing nipplev for positioning and retaining saidchoke in place in said landing nipple, said positioning and locking means comprising laterally oifset selector keys and locking dogs disposed in position to engage the adja-` Y cent annular grooves in the landing nipple, whereby the locking dogs lock in one of the grooves engaged by the Y selector key.

21. A well tool comprising: an elongate tubular housing connectable in the ow string of aV well, said housing Y having a bore providing va cylindrical sealing surface therein at its lower end; an elongate tubular landing nipple disposed in said housing and having its lower end spaced from the cylindrical sealing surface at the lower end of said housing; said landing nipple being of substantially smaller diameter than said housing whereby a ow passage is formed between said housing and the exterior of said landing nipple; means providing a lateral passageway communicating with the exterior of the housing and with the interior of the landing nipple;vand valve means in said housing between the exterior of said housing and A the interior of said landing nipple controlling ow through K said lateral passageway.

22. A well tool including: an elongate tubular housing connectable in a well ow conductor and having an axial bore and a lateral port intermediate its ends; an elongate ,Y

tubular landing nipple mounted in the housing and having its exterior wall spaced from the wall ofthe bore ofV f the housing to provide a Vlow passage therebetween; a lateral projection extending between said landing nipple and said housing and having a ow passage therein having communication with the interior of the landing nipple and with the exteriorof the housing through the lateral port therein; valve means initially closing said row passage to prevent ow of uid in either direction therethrough; a choke removably positioned in said landing nipple and having sealing means .sealing between said choke and said nipple above kand below said flow passage and defining an annular space between said choke and landing nipple; said choke having means moving said valve means to open position to permit ow through said tlow passage into said annular space; said choke havinga bore therein with a lateral port communicating with said annular space whereby uid may ow from saidoannular space to the port and bore of the choke; and lockingV means on said choke removably locking .said choke in` position in said landing nipple.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES VPATENTS Otis Oct. 16, 1951 

